Perforating machine and the like



April 1, 1930. R. HEAD PERFORATING MACHINEAND THE LIKE 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet Filed July 29 INVENTOR. Y ROBERTHEAD April 1, 1930.

Filed July 29 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

April 1, 1930. R. HEAD ,1 PERFORATING MACHINE AND THE LIKE F l July 1924 .6 Sheets-Sheet, 5

I INVENTOR.

' -ROBERT HEAD Arroaggg A ril 1; 1930.

R. HEAD PERFORATING MACHINE AND THE LIKE Filed July 29 1924 v 6 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR. ROBER T HEAD A TTORNE Y.

April 1, 1930. R. HEA 4 1,753,148

PERFORA'ITING MACHINE AND THE LIKE Filed July 29. 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet" 5 IN VEN TOR. ROBERT HEAD ATTORNEY.

April 1, 1930. R. HEAD PERFORATING MACHINE AND THE LIKE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed July 29, 1924 II -Infill l l I I ll INVENTOR.

ROBERTHEAD m/6 v 1 ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 1, 1930 UNITE ROBERT HEAD, OF YONKEBS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE AEOLIAN COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT PERFOBATIN G MACHINE AND THE LIKE Application filed July 29,

My present invention relates to improvements in perforating machines and the like including machines for making perforated music-rolls from the playing of a piano, organ or the like by an artist or for making copies from an already perforated master record. My invention also includes What I believe to be a new mechanical movement adapted to various other uses. In musicroll perforating machines, especially duplieating machines for making copies from a master, the usual construction generally requires that the punches operate at fixed intervals irrespective of the exactway the artist recorded the master record. My invention avoids this and produces copies which are substantially exact duplicates of the master record as played by the artist. The new mechanical embodiment by which I operate the punches is especially quick, sensitive and powerful. The machine feeds the master record and the copies continuously except for the interval in each operation of the intermittently operated punches when said punch or punches are actually entered in the copy or copies, and for this interval said feed is arrested. The length of the interval of feed of the sheets between successive cuts by a punch or punches is adjustable so as to vary the distance between or the extent of overlap of successive cuttings in forming slots. The selectors which follow the master record for controlling the operation of the punches embody a construction which improves the accuracy of their control. These being some of the objects and advantages of my invention, of which others Will be evident, especially to those skilled in the art, from the following description in connection with the drawings. These for greater clarity illustrate in more or less diagrammatic form my improvements as applied primarily to a music-roll perforating and duplicating machine.

Fig. 1 is a left side elevation of such a machine in a preferred embodiment thereof within my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in horizontal section, of said machine; Fig. 3 is a fore and aft vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, on the line 3-3 1924. Serial No. 728,856.

in Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 3 shows parts of a piano usable with my machine for recording hand-playing; Fig. 4 is a right side elevation of said machine; Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are enlarged perspective views of a detail of the machine to show the action of one unit of the selector and circuit closing mechanism; Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 are enlarged side elevations, partly in vertical section, of one of the punch-operating units to illustrate the cycle of operation of said units, all of these punch units in the machine being the same so that the illustration of one applies to all, this being true also of the above selector and circuit closing unit of Figs. 5, 6 and 7; and Fig. 12 is a partial plan view of parts bearing the same numerals as in Fig. 8.

I will now describe the improvements constituting my invention in connection with the preferred embodiment thereof illustrated in the drawings. The general form of the machine will be readily seen from an inspection and comparison of the plan (Fig. 2), the left side elevation (Fig. 1), the left side vertical section (Fig. 3), and the right side elevation (Fig. 4E);

The frame of the machine consists of the right and left side plates or frames 11 (best shown respectively in Figs. 4 andl) rigidly'connected by crossbars 2 (best shown in the plan view Fig. 2 and vertical section Fig. 3). Cast integrally with said side frames 1 are the supporting feet or standards 3, as are also the vertical extensions 1"1 at the rear of the machine for supporting the electro-magnets and other parts later to be described.

4 is the main pulley for driving the ma chine secured to a short shaft journaled in v the bracket 5 and in the left side frame 1, gear'wheel 6 (Fig. 1) being also secured on said shaft; The following rolls and rotary parts are supported in suitable bearings pro vided in the side frames 1 or supported thereby, said rolls and rotary parts and the gearing for driving them being as follows, appropriate designating names being used therefor to accord with the function of said. parts and with the subsequent description.

ill-0 The toggle roll 7 is driven from the aforesaid drive-pulley gear 6 (Fig. 1) through the large gear 7 on the reduced left end of said roll. The reduced right end of said roll carries a small gear 7 (Fig. 4) which drives the large gear 10 rotatably supported on a stationary stud 11 (Fig. 2) on the rlght side frame 1 of the machine, said gear 10 carrying integrally with it a bevelled gear 10 (Figs. 2 and 4). Said gear 10 in turn drives shaft 12 through bevelled gear 12 on said shaft which is ournaled horizontally at the right side frame of the machine on brackets 15. The forward end of this shafthas a bevelled gear 12 which drives the large bevelled gear 17, which latter is loose on the reduced end of the roll 18 and is held in frictional driving contact with a fine toothed ratchet wheel 18 by the compression spring 20 held on by the adjustable collar 21, said gear 18 being keyed or otherwise fixed on said reduced end of the roll 18. 22 is a pawl on the rock shaft 23 adapted, as later described, to be rocked into engagement with the ratchet wheel 18 whenever rotation of said wheel and roll 18 and all the other parts driven thereby is to be checked, the bevelled gear 17 meanwhile rotating in slipping contact with the ratchet wheel 18.

Said other parts, just referred to, comprise the rolls for feeding the master record 24 (Fig. 3) and the paper sheets 25 that are to be perforated from said master. As will later appear, both the master 24 and the sheets 25 are in continuous motion during the operation of the machine except for the interruptions caused by the aforesaid locking of the ratchet wheel 18 which occurs whenever a punch or punches is in operation.

The master record 24 is, in the first instance, wound up and carried on a spool 26 adapted to be rotatably supported in any well known manner in the position shown in Fig. 3 between the side frames of the machine. The master record 24 is then threaded around roll 27 (Fig. 3) and over the selector bar 28 and has its free end attached to a takeup spool (not shown) of any usualor well known type adapted to be supported on and between the spindles 2930 (compare Fig. 2), the spindle 29 having the usual screw driver projection 29 to fit a corresponding slot in the end of said take-up spool so as to drive the spool from the rotation of the spindle.

Said spindle 29, journaled for free rotation in the side frame 1, has a reduced end portion 29* on which is an adjustable collar 3O" to compress the coiled spring 31 and thereby force the hubbed sprocket wheel 32 (loose on the reduced end portion 29*) into light frictional slip-drive engagement with the adjacent end of the spindle 29. The said sprocket wheel 32 is driven by the chain 34 from the sprocket Wheel 18 fixed on the reduced end of the roll 18. Thus, the roll 18 drives the take-up spool through the slip connection and thereby keeps a tension on the master record, but the actual speed of travel of said master is governed by the rolls 27 and 36 (Fig. 3) between which the master passes; also, when the rolls stop, the master stops.

The roll 27 is driven from the gear 18 which is in mesh with the gear 27 (Fig. 2) on the reduced right hand end of the roll 27. This, of course, results in driving said roll 2? whenever the pawl 22 is not in engagement with the ratchet gear 18 As to the other roll 36 (Figs. 2 and 4), this is driven from roll 27 by a gear 27 (Fig. 2) on the latter in mesh with the gear 36 on the former.

Further, it will be noted that this roll 36 is journaled on a pair of arms 38-38 (Figs. 2 and 3) which in turn are pivoted to a rod 39 that is supported transversely by the side frames of the machine. This construction permits the roll 36 to be raised out of engement with the roll 27 in order to thread the master record between the rolls. The roll 36 is preferably provided with theshort rublrer sleeves or bands 40 (Figs. 2 and 3) fixed thereon so asbetter to grip the master record. Further, said rolls 27 and'36, of course, rotate oppositely and in the direction of the adjacent arrows in Fig. 3.

Describing now the means for supporting and feeding the paper 25 which is to be perforated by the machine in duplication of the perforations in the master record 24, it should be remarkedthat the dotted line 25 in Fig. 3 is intended to represent either one strip of paper or a plurality of superposed strips, the latter being the more usual since economy usually requires that many sheets be perforated simultaneously and this can readily be done with the present machine, since the punclractuating mechanism works on a novel principle involving a toggle action and is especially powerful. Referring now to Fig. 3, the superimposed p'aper strips are passed over the idler roll 41 at the back of the machine, thence forwardly on a supporting plate 42 under the punch-operating mechanism, then between the stripper bar 43 of the punches 44 and the anvil or die bar 45. thence the paper strips are pulled forward supported by the overlapping plates 46 and 47 and fed between the driving rolls 18 and 48, and finally passes out to the front of the machine over the angular cross-bar 2, said rolls rotating oppositely in the direction of the adjacent arrows. It will, of course, be understood that the aforesaid supporting plates 42, 46, 47 and the bars 43 and are suitably supported by the side frames of the machine.

It has already been explained how the roll 18 is driven by the beveled gear 17 acting frictionally against the ratchet wheel l8 (keyed to said roll) except when the pawl 22 is in engagement with said ratchet wheel. It remains to explain how the other roll l (Fig. 3) is driven by means of the gear 18 (Figs. 2 and 3) in mesh with the gear 48 of said roll 48. The lower roll 48 is shown journalcd in parts 49 vertically guided for movement in the direction of the upper roll yieldingly impelled by the compression springs 50 acting between the machine frameand said parts -19, all in order to grip and feed more satisfactorily the superposed paper strips between the rolls. 5151 are adjusting screws working against plates 52 to at. just the pressure of the springs 50 on the rolls d8.

Describing now the selector and circuit closing mechanism for determining the operation of the punches, the selector bar 28 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5 to 7) already referred to, over which the master record passes is a fixed bar supported by the side frames of the machine and has a slot 28 in o which thepoints of the selector fingers 53 can drop through the perforations in the master. There are as many selector units (all alike) as there are possible rows of perforations in the master record and a horizontal rod 5% supported by the machine frame passes through all of them so that every selector can freely pivot up and down independently of every other selector. Each selector consists a metal part shaped as best shown in Fig. 5, etc, and having a bearing hole through it for the aforesaid rod 54 on which it pivots. Each selector finger 53 (Fig. 5) is made of apiece of round wire having a screw-threaded upwardly bent end 53 engaging a screw threaded hole in the underside of the part 55 so tnat said finger.

is supported from said part 55 and at the same time can freely swivel laterally relatively thereto. The free end of the finger consists of a downwardly bent bluntly pointed portion 53. Further, each selector unit comprises a circuit closing metal linger 56 affixed to the side of the part 55 with insulation 57 in between so as to be electrically insulated from each other. Each finger56 at its rear end has a cam-like projection 56 against which downwardly bears an individual leaf spring 58 as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Under the free ends of the fingers 56 is a horizontal metal contact bar 59 supported by the sides of the machine. vl henever any trailing finger 53 rests on the unperforated part of the master record, as in Fig. 3, its circuit closing finger 56 is held up out of contact with the bar 59, but as soon as said trailing finger 53 enters fully downinto a perforation in the master, the linger 56, impelled by its own weight and by the spring 58, makes contact with the bar 59.

There is an electro-magnet 66 for eachselcctor unit electrically connected therewith,

as indicated in Fig. 3, one pole of the battery being connected by a Wire 61 with the contact bar 59 and the other pole to one terminal of all of the magnets by a wire 62, the other terminals of the magnets being connected individually to the springs 58 by individual wires 63 and through said springs to the individual electrical cont-act fingers 56.

The magnets 60, only one of which is shown for simplicity in Fig. 3, are mounted in rows or tiers on a panel 64: supported by the parts 1 of the side frames of the machine. Each magnet has a soft iron core and pole-pieces 60 also a soft iron armature 65 pivotally supported at 65 and pivotally connected at its other end to a vertical rod 66 whose lower end 66 (Fig. 8 is flattened (longitudinally relatively to the machine) and is received down through a slot 2 (Fig. 12) in the sta tionary cross bar 2 as best shown in Figs. 8 to 10 and in the plan View Fig. 12 to be later described. The sides 66 of the rod overhangingsaid flattened end 66 prevent the rod from dropping through the slot 2 below the position shown in Fig. 11. A leaf spring 67 made of a non-magnetic metal or the like is attached by one end to the top of the armature 65 with its free end bearing against the polepieces of the electro-magnet. This spring serves the double purpose of quickly and positively positioning the rod 66 into the position shown in Figs. 3 and 8 whenever its magnet is de-energized, and also of preventing any residual magnetism in the pole-pieces from causing the armature to retard or prevent said action. From Fig. 3 it will be noted that the magnets 60 are each supported well away from the panel at the end of a non-magnetic spool or spacer 68 so as to increase the leverage of their magnetic pull on the armatures 65. which for this purpose are hinged adjacent'the panel as shown.

Thus, whenever any magnet 60 is energized by the closing of its electrical circuit from the dropping of the related selector finger 53 fully into a perforation in the master record, with the resultant contact by its contact finger 56 with the contact bar 59, then said energized magnet attracts its armature 65 and lifts the end of the rod 66 out of the path of the related star wheel 69 (Fig. 3) and initiates the operation of the related punch 44 as will now be described.

There are as many punches 4A and punch operating units as there are selector and circuit closing units. Each punch operating unit comprises a star wheel 69 rotatably supported on a stud projecting from one arm of a bell-crank lever 70 whose pivotal support is a rod 71 extending'from side to side of the machine as a common support for all the bell-cranks. The free end of the vertical arm of each bell-crank is guided by the sides of a saw-cut or groove in the bottom of the cross bar 2, the depth of each of said grooves being indicated b the dotted lines 2 in Figs. 3 and 8 et seq. gimilarly, the angle of each bell-crank lever is laterally supported and stiffened by the sides of a groove 72 (Fig. 3) in the cross bar 7 2, there being a separate groove as before for each bell-crank. The horizontal arm of each bell-crank overlies the bent over head. 4 of each punch and has its free end guided and stiffened for vertical movement by the sides of a slot in the stationary member 73 which in face View presents the appearance of a comb due to the multiplicity of slots required to accommodate the numerous bell-cranks. 74 is a leaf spring, one under each punch head 4: 3 to keep the punches normally in their up-position and also the horizontal arms of the bell-cranks in their Lip-position until stopped by the free ends of their vertical arms coming into con- .act with the closed ends of the slots 2 in the cross bar 2.

Eachbell-crank has a presser part 75 pivoted at 76 to the side of'its vertical arm with a spring 77 secured to the heel of said part 111d having its free end confined by a pin on the bell-crank so that said spring is under a tension tending to press the toe of the presser part upwardly and to the left in Figs. 3 and 8 to 11 toward the star wheel 69. The icting face of said presser part, that is, its face toward the star wheel, has a concave portion 75 followed toward the toe by a tapering inclined portion 75 Said taper toe portion, under the action of the spring 77 )y engaging one of the rays of the star wheeh-fo-r instance, the ray (Ztends to rotate said wheel until stopped by another ray Z) of the wheel abutting against the end 66 of the rod 66, if said rod, as in Figs. 3 or S, is in its down position with the related electroanagnet 60 tie-energized, which means, it will be remembered, that the related selector finger 53 is riding on an unperforated portion of the master record as in Fig. 5.

As soon, however, as said selector finger drops fully into a perforation in said master, as in Fig. 6, the circuit closed by the contact of. 56 (Fig. 6) with the bar 59 energizing said magnet 60, lifts the aforesaid related rod 66 into the position shown in Fig. 9, so that it no longer stops the star wheel which accordingly rotates impelled by the presser part 75 until its ray a engages the constantly rotating roll 7 as shown in Fig. 9. and then is forcibly carried around by said roll into the position shown in Fig. 10 and finally into the position shown in Fig. 11. Considering the radii shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 9 of the roll 7 and of the star wheel to' their point of contact in said Fig. 9, it will be seen that there is created a powerful toggle action up to the position shown in Fig. 10, which asserts itself by rocking the bell-crank to the right and downwardly in Figs. 9 and 10 and thereby powerfully driving the-punches through the sheets being perforated. 7

During said down stroke of the punch, it will be seen from Fig. 9 that the presser part only aids and does not interfere with the engagement of the roll 7 by the star wheel because its toe portion 75 is in contact with ray (Z of the star wheel, whereas the succeeding ray 6 is out of contact because located in the concave portion 75. Before the time indicated in Fig. 11, when the roll 7 ceases to drive the star wheel by means of the ray a, the ray 6 has ridden up on the toe portion 75 of the presser part which instantly continues the rotation of the star wheel until the ray 0 abuts against the stop 66 in case the rod 66 shall have been lowered meanwhile, due to the ole-energizing of the related magnet 60 due to the travel of the master record as. in Fig. 7, causing the selector finger to begin to ride out of the acting perforation up onto the surface of the master record which, as shown in Fig. 7, raises the contact finger 56 off the bar 59, thereby opening the circuit and de-energizing the aforesaid magnet 60.

The spring 74 of the given punch 44 returns it and the related bell-crank to their normal out of operation position (Fig. 8) while the roll 7 is driving the star wheel from the position shown in Fig. 10 to Fig. 11 ready for another stroke of the punch as soon as the selector drops into another perforation in the master record.

f course,.the above operation which takes so long to describe takes place in a moment of time and results in the single dot perforation 24 (Fig. 5) in the master record being duplicated by a single dot perforation in the copy or copies designated by 25 in Fig. 3. On the other hand, when a selector 53 drops into a perforation in the master which is longer than a single dot, the related magnet 60 remains energized and the stop 66 remains up for the length of the perforation so thatthe presser part in Fig. 11 keeps rotating one ray of the star wheel after another into engagement with the toggle roll 7, first b, then 0, and so on, depending upon the length of the perforation, so that the toggle action repeatedly operates the related punch to form a slot of the same length as the slot in the master record 24".

It has already been stated that the master record 24 and the copies 25 travel in a continuous,that is to say, a non-step-by-stepfashion between successive punching operations; and that both are stopped and held stationary during each punching operation. The means for automatically accomplishing the latter will now be described. 23 (Figs. 2 and 3) is a rock shaft journaled in the side frames of the machine with its right end extending beyond the side of the machine, as

shown in Fig. 2,- and being there provided with a pawl 22 loose on the said shaft located at the periphery of the ratchet wheel 18*. At the side of said pawl is a part 82 (F ig. 4) secured to the rock shaft by a set screw 82 so that the rotary position of said part on said shaft is subject to adjustment. 83 is a leaf spring secured to the back of the pawl with its free end bearing against the pin 82 (Fig. 4) on the part 82, said spring normally holding said pawl yieldingly against the stop pin 82 on the part 82. 84 is a bail attached by its arms to the rock shaft 23 so as to impart its motion thereto, said bail having its cross-piece extending under the free ends of the horizontal members of the bell-crank levers as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. A tension spring 85 attached to said bail and to the machine frame keeps the bail lifted and normally in contact with the under side of said bell-cranks. Fig. 3 shows the position of the bail when the entire row of bell-cranks is in up position. At this time the rotary angular adjustment of the above described part 82 relatively to the rock shaft 80 is such that the toe of the pawl is out of contact with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 18 The result is that after the initiation of a punching operation, the moment the forward ends of one or more of the bell-cranks 7 0 begin to descend and before they have gone far enough for the punches to reach the paper strips 25. (Fig. 3) the concurrent slight downward motion of the bail 84 will rotate the shaft 80 the sheets being perforated, because these, itv

will be remembered, are driven through said ratchet wheel. The result is that the punchoperation takes place while the sheets are tacionary and, therefore, no tearing occurs; also, the movement of the master record 1s stopped so that synchronism or the proper relation between the master and. the sheets being perforated is maintained. The master and said sheets do not begin to be redriven until the punch or punches 44; have been retracted from the sheets and the bail has resumed its up position (Fig. 3) resulting in rocking the aforesaid pawl 81 out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 18 which immediately resumes rotation, driven frictionally, as heretofore explained, by the constantly rotating beveled gear 17 (Fig.2) and in turn driving the master record 24 and the copies 25.

in cutting an elongated perforation or slot, it will be seen that the interval that the pawl 22 is out of locking engagement with the ratchet wheel 18 will be the measure of the amount of movement of the master 24 and of the copy 25 between successive operations of the punch,in other words, will determine the degree of overlap of successive punchings. Further, it will be seen that this interval can be adjusted so as to be longer or shorter depending upon the angular position of said pawl 22 relatively to the rock shaft 80 and the bail 84, the position of said pawl in turn being adjustable as already explained by using the set screw 82 and adjusting the angular position of the part 82.

Reverting now to miscellaneous features, 6 and 7 show how no contact is made between the finger 56 and the contact bar 59 until the master record has traveled far enough for the point of the selector finger to drop concentrically into said perforation.

This times the punching of the corresponding perforations in the copies to occur at sub stantially the right moment instead of before or after the right moment.

If the selector fingers 53 were rigid with the contact fingers 56 and happened to be slightly out of line with the master perforations, they would be prevented from dropping fully into them when, as a matter of fact, they should so do. To avoid this possiv bility is the reason why I support the selector fingers 53 from the contact fingers so that they can freely swivel laterally as heretofor described.

To throw all of the punches out of opera tion for any purpose and to maintain them in their up position, I prefer to fasten a rib 59 of insulating material lengthwise of the contact bar 59; also to support said bar like a rock shaft so that it can be given a partial rotation by the handle 59 from the position shown in Fig. 3 and into a position where said insulating rib 59 is located under all of the contact lingers 56, thereby opening the circuit to all the magnets 60 and thereby through the stop rods 66 (as in Fig. 3), preventing the rotating toggle roll 7 from operating any of the star wheels, 69 or, in short, any of the punching units, with the result that the springs 74L keep all of the punches in their up position. The same operation of the contact bar to position the insulating rib under the contact fingers 56 also lifts all of the selector fingers 53 conveniently clear of the master sheet.

It will, of course, be understood that for simplicity Fig. 2 shows only a few of the entire quota of the selector units and punch units.

The toggle roll 7 (Fig. 8) is preferably provided with fine teeth 1 0 (of which the drawings show only a few but, of course, they eX- te'nd all the way around the roll in practice as well as longitudinally of said roll for its full length) to coact like a gear wheel with imilar teeth preferably provided also on the ends of the rays a, Z), 0, etc, of the star wheel 69. The toggle roll and star wheels may be made advantageously of hardened steel.

Also, the toggle roll instead of being a solid roll is preferably built up out of a series of hardened steel toothed annular disks 7 (Fig. 8) supported side by side on cylindrical core 7 to which they are secured against rotary movement by a key 7 fitted into a longitudinal slot in said core and in each of the disks. lVashers and nuts (not shown) on the projecting free ends of the core clamp the disks together on the core against endwise displacement. The advantage of this plural disk construction over a solid roll is that certain punch units are likely to be much more frequently operated than others, and when the corresponding disks of the toggle roll become worn they are readily replaced by new ones witnout scrapping the entire roll, which would have to be done if the roll were unitary.

The following features shown in the draw ings should also be described: Fig. 12 is a partial plan VlBW of the cross-bar 2 and related parts in Fig. 8 from which it will be seen that for convenience in constructic-n said bar 2 is made up of a thick and a thin bar (compare Fig.8) held together in lateral cont-act along the line 2. The thin bar has saw cuts 2 through its abutting edge which are closed by the side of the other bar. The flattened ends 66, heretofore described, of the rod 66, fit slidably down into and through the respective rectangular holes 2 to form the stops hitherto described for the star wheel 69, the overhanging sides 66 of each rod 66 forming another stop which prevents the given rod from dropping below the position shown in Fig. 8.

As indicated in Fig. 8, the under side of the head 44? of each punch rests in a groove on the end of the related spring 7e so that the punch head cannot swivel laterally from its proper position under the related bellcrank lever.

90 in Fig. 3 is an ordinary electrical switch which may be used by the operator as occasion requires for opening and closing the battery circuit to the machine.

Fig. 3 on the same sheet with Fig. 3 indicates how my improvements, omitting only the selector units and the master record, are adapted to be used in connection with a recording piano for making a perforated musicsheet from the performance of an artist at the piano. A pair of electrical contacts is provided for each note-striking unit of the piano to be closed either by the key (which is the form shown) or by some part of the piano hammer-action operated by said key. In said Fig. 3 91 is a stationary contact and 92" is a movable contact secured to the bottom of the piano key 93. As in Fig. 3, a battery or other suitable source of current is put in circuit with these contacts, which circuit also includes the related electro-magnets 60. Thus, whenever said key is depressed to strike a note on the piano, the related magnet is energized which raises the stop rod 66 and sets in operation the related punch l i for the time the key is held and results in cut ting a perforation of corresponding length in the strip 25.

In addition, my improvements are no doubt adapted in whole or in part to other uses which I intend to cover by the annexed claims. Also, I recognize that modifications and substitution of equivalents can be made in the constructions shown and described which will not be apart from the spirit and intent of my invention and which as such I intend to be covered by the annexed claims.

What I claim is: p

1. In combination, a fulcrumed lever, a punch arranged to be driven by said lever, means for returning said punch and lever to a normal position, an interrupted gear rotatably supported on said lever, a removable stop for said gear, a rotary part arranged to drive said gear when the latter is rotated into engagement therewith and at the same time operate said lever to drive the punch, and means for rotating said gear into engagement with said rotary part whenever the aforesaid stop is removed.

2. In combination, a pivotally supported bell-crank lever, a punch arranged to be driven by one arm of said lever, means for returning said punch and lever to a normal position, an interrupted gear rotatably supported on the other arm of said lever, a removable stop for said gear, a rotary part arranged to ,drive said gear when the latter is rotated into engagement therewith and at the same time rock said lever about its pivot to drive the punch, and means for rotating said gear into engagement with said rotary part whenever the aforesaid stop is removed.

3. In combination, a fulcrumed lever, a punch arranged to be driven by said lever, means for returning said punch and lever to a normal position, a plural raye'd star wheel rotatably supported on the lever, a removable stop for said wheel engageable with the respective rays thereof, a rotary part normally rotating in the space between two of said rays without engaging them, a springimpelled presser member on said lever adapted to press against a ray of the star wheel and to rotate said wheel against the aforesaid stop, and, 1f the stop be removed, into ongagement with'the aforesaid rotary part which in the latter event drives said wheel for a part of a rotation and at the same time operates the lever to drive the punch.

4. In combination, a pivotally supported bell-crank .lever, a punch arranged to be driven by one arm of said lever, means for returning said punch and lever to a normal position, a plural rayed star wheel rotatably supported on the other arm of said lever, a removable stop for said wheel engageable with the respective rays thereof, a rotary part normally rotating in the space between two of said rays without engaging them, a spring-impelled presser member on 'thebellcrank adapted to press against a ray of the star wheel to rotate said wheel against the aforesaid stop and, if the stop he removed, into engagement with the aforesaid rotary part which in the latter event drives said wheel for a part of a rotation and at the same time rocks the lever about its pivot to drive the punch.

5. In combination, a pivoted member, a driven element arranged to be driven by said pivoted member, means for returnil'lg said pivoted member and the driven element to a normal position, an interrupted gear rotatably supported on the pivoted member, a. removable stop for said gear, a rotary part arranged to drive said gear when the latter is rotated into engagement with said rotary part and, to operate the aforesaid pivoted member to drive the first named driven element, and means for rotating said gear into engagement with said rotary part whenever the aforesaid stop is removed.

6. In combination, means for supporting and driving a perforated master record, a conically pointed select-or finger, said perforations of the master record and said conical point being ofsuch relative size that the point can pass well into but not wholly through said perforations, said conically pointed selector finger being supported t trail longitudinally along the traveling record in contact therewith and, as it trails, to be movable to enter and exit from successive aligned perforations in said master record and also to be freely movable laterally in following said record to enable said conical point to enter fully into the several perforations of said record so as to be in effect supported thereby.

7. In combination, means for supporting and driving a perforated master record, a conically pointed selector finger, said perforations of the master record and said conical point being of such relative size that, the

point can pass well into but not wholly through said perforations, said conically pointed selector finger being supported to trail longitudinally along the traveling rec ord in contact therewith and, as it trails, to be freely movable to enter and exit from successive aligned perforations in said master record, a punch unit, and electrical contact means arranged to initiate the operation of said punch unit only when the pointof the selector finger is fully entered into the several perforations of the master record so as to be in effect supported thereby.

8. In combination, means for supporting and driving a perforated master record, a conically pointed selector finger, said perforations of the master record and said conical point being of such relative size that the point can pass well intd (but not wholly through said perforations, said conically pointed selector finger being supported to trail longitudinally along the traveling record in contact therewith and, as it trails, to be freely movable to enter and exit from successive aligned perforations in said master record, a punch unit, and electrical contact means arranged to be closed to initiate the "operation of said punch unit only when the point of the selector finger is fully entered into the several perforations of the master record so as to be in effect supported thereby.

9. In combination, means for supporting and driving a perforated master record, a pointed selector finger supported to trail longitudinally relatively to the traveling'record in contact therewith, said finger being freely movable to enter and exit from successive aligned perforations in said master record, an electrical contact finger insulated from said selector finger connected therewith to partake of its motion in entering and exiting from said perforations, and a relatively stationary electrical contact arranged to be engaged by said contact finger only when the point of the selector finger is fully entered into the several perforations of the master record.

10. In combination, means for supporting and driving a perforated master record, a pointed selector finger supported to trail longitudinally along the traveling record in contact therewith, said finger being freely movable to enter and exit from successive aligned perforations in said master record, contact means arranged to be closed only when the point of the selector finger is fully entered into the several perforations of the master record, a fulcrumed lever, a punch arranged to be driven by said lever, means for returning said punch and lever to a normal position, an interrupted gear rotatably supported on said lever, a removable stop for said gear operated through said contact means, a rotary part arranged to drive said gear when the latter is rotated into engagement therewith and to operate said lever to drive the punch, and means for rotating said gear into engagement with said rotary part whenever the aforesaid stop is removed.

11. In combination, means for supporting and driving a perforated master record, a plurality of-selector fingers supported side by side to trail longitudinally along the travel- 1 g master record incontact therewith, said fingers being individually freely movable to enter andexit from successive aligned perforations in said master record, electrical contact fingers one for each selector finger insulated therefrom but connected therewith to partake of its motion in entering and exiting from said perforations, and a rotary electrical contact bar arranged to be engaged by said contact fingers to close individual electrical circuits whenever the related selector fingers enter said perforations, said ro ry electrical contact bar having an insul longitudinal rib adapted to be rotated under all of the contact fingers to insulate them from said bar and at the same time lift the selector fingers clear of the master record.

12. In combination, a slip drive means for a ratchet wheel, said ratchet wheel, means connected with said ratchet wheel for driving with a continuous travel a suitably supported perforated master record and a suitably supported strip to be perforated; selector means operated by the perforations in the master record; punch means for perforating said strip operatively connected with said selector means so as to be controlled thereby; a pawl movable into and out of locking engagement With said ratchet wheel; and means for operating said pawl so that it is in locking engagement while the punch in each operation of the punch means is entered in the strip and which releases said pawl during each punch opera tion before the punch enters and after it leaves the strip.

13. In combination, a slip drive means for a ratchet wheel, said ratchet wheel, means connected with said ratchet wheel for driving with a continuous travel a suitably supported perforated master record and a suitably supported strip to be perforated; selector means operated by the perforations in the master record; punch means for perforating said strip operatively connected with said selector means so as to be controlled thereby; a pawl movable into and out of locking engagement with said ratchet wheel; means for operating said pawl so that it is in locking engagement while the punch in each operation of the punch means is entered in the strip and which releases said pawl during each punch operation before the punch enters and after it means so as to be controlled thereby; and means for arrestlng the aforesaid driving means while the punch in each operation of the punch means is entered in thestrip, said arresting means being so constructed and arranged to release said driving means when the punch is clear of the strip.

15. In combination, selector means operated by perforations in a traveling master record; punch means for perforating a traveling str1p operatlvely connected with said selector means so as to be controlled thereby; means which in each operation of. the punch means causes said master record and saidstrip to travel with a continuous motion before the punch in that operation enters and after it leaves the strip but which arrests said travel of the master record and strip while the punch is entered in the strip.

16. In combination, a slip drive means for a ratchet wheel, said ratchet wheel, means connected with said ratchet wheel for driving with a continuous travel a suitably supported perforated master record and a suitably supported strip to be perforated; selector means operated by the perforations in the master record; punch means for perforating said strip operatively connected with said selector means so as to be controlled thereby; a pawl movable into and out of locking engagement with said ratchet wheel; an arm for operating said pawl, saidarm being itself operated by each stroke towards the strip of the punch means to move the pawl into locking engagement with the ratchet wheel; and means for returning said arm and pawl to a non-locking position towards the end of each stroke away from the strip of the punch means.

17. In combination, a slip drive means for a ratchet wheel, said ratchet wheel, means connected with said ratchet wheel for driving with a continuous travel a suitably supported perforated master record and a suitably supported strip to be perforated; selector means operated by the perforations in the master record; punch means for perforating said strip operatively connected with said selector means so as to be controlled thereby; a pawl movable into and out of locking engagement with said ratchet wheel; an arm for operating said pawl, said arm being itself operated by each stroke towards the strip of the punch'means to move the pawl into locking engagement with the ratchet wheel; means for returning said arm and pawl to a nonlocking position towards the end of each stroke away from the strip of the punch means; and means for adjusting theposition of said pawl relatively to said arm.

18. In combination, a plurality of punch units arranged side by side in a row, each unit comprising a pivoted member, a punch arranged to be driven by said pivoted member, means for returning said pivoted member and punch to a normal position, an interrupted gear rotatably supported on the pivoted member, a removable stop for said gear, a gear toothed roll common to all of said gears arranged to drive them whenever they are rotated into engagement therewith and to operate their pivoted members to drive their unches', and means for rotatin said ears fr. 7 G

into engagement with said roll whenever their aforesaid stops are removed.

19. In combination, a plurality of punch units arranged side by side in a row, each unit comprising a pivoted member, a punch arranged to be driven by said pivoted member, means for returning said pivoted member and punch to a normal position an interrupted s gear rotatably supported on the pivoted member, a removable stop for said gear, a gear toothed roll common to all of said gears ar ranged to drive them whenever they are rotated into engagement therewith and to operate their pivoted members to drive their punches; and means for rotating said gears into engagement with said roll whenever their aforesaid stops are removed, said roll consisting of a plurality of separable toothed disks one for each unch unit gear, removably supported side y side on a core.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 28th day of July, 1924.

ROBERT HEAD. 

